The volunteer participating family, couple or individual who will be taking the crucifix or chalice into their home will receive suggested prayers for vocations.

 

The participants are asked to sit in a pew near the front of the church. After Mass they will be asked to come to the altar where they will be given the crucifix or chalice along with a blessing from the celebrant and will process from the Church behind the lectors and servers but before the celebrant.

 

In taking the chalice or crucifix home, parishioners commit themselves to one week of prayer primarily for vocations to the priesthood and religious life but also to pray for lay ministers who serve the parish community church and school. They are asked to place the chalice or crucifix in a place of honor where daily activities occur such as a table, mantle or shelf. The following weekend they will bring the crucifix or chalice to Mass and leave it in the sacristy.   The next volunteer family or individual will receive it at the end of that Mass.

 

With this program, many parishioners have said they have benefited from praying as a family or learning to pray together as a family for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. We also hope to raise awareness of our community of the need to pray for vocations.

 

This program was developed by the Serra Clubs in the United States and around the world. Serrans are the lay arm of the Church for vocations. Father Tom McSherry now in Oklahoma City gave the crucifix to the Church of Saint Mary when he returned from our diocesan mission in Guatemala, Central America. The chalice is a gift from Dennis Ziegler’s company.